Digital camera with printer

ABSTRACT

A digital camera with a printer is a digital camera with a printer and includes a communication unit that communicates with a digital camera with a printer that is another apparatus, and an image composition unit that generates a composite image in which a first image captured by the digital camera with a printer that is an owned apparatus and a second image captured by the other apparatus are composited, in which the communication unit transmits the composite image to the other apparatus. A user of the other apparatus can also obtain the composite image. Accordingly, the composite image can be enjoyed by capturing images using a plurality of cameras.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of PCT International Application No.PCT/JP2019/044616 filed on Nov. 14, 2019, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-048521 filed onMar. 15, 2019. Each of the above application(s) is hereby expresslyincorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the presentapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital camera with a printer.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a digital camera with a printer capable of instantlyprinting a captured image has been widely used, and various methods ofuse have been suggested. For example, JP2002-112152A disclosesperforming printing using a wirelessly connected external printer in acase where printing cannot be performed using an incorporated printer ina digital camera with a printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the technology disclosed in JP2002-112152A, an output destination isthe external printer, and printing is performed in one way from thedigital camera. In such a manner, the technology in the related art doesnot consider a relationship with another digital camera with a printer,and images cannot be captured and enjoyed by a plurality of users.

The present invention is conceived in view of such a matter, and anobject thereof is to provide a digital camera with a printer enabling acomposite image to be enjoyed by capturing images using a plurality ofcameras.

In order to accomplish the above object, a digital camera with a printeraccording to a first aspect of the present invention is a digital camerawith a printer and comprises a communication unit that communicates witha digital camera with a printer of another apparatus as a client, and animage composition unit that generates a composite image in which a firstimage captured by the digital camera with a printer of an ownedapparatus as a host and a second image captured by the client arecomposited, in which the communication unit transmits the compositeimage to the client.

In the first aspect, the composite image in which the image captured bythe owned apparatus as the host (side on which the composite image isgenerated) and the image captured by the other apparatus as the client(side on which the composite image is received) are composited isgenerated, and the generated composite image is transmitted to theclient (the other apparatus). Thus, not only a user of the host (ownedapparatus) but also a user of the client (the other apparatus) canobtain the composite image. Accordingly, the composite image can beenjoyed by capturing images using a plurality of cameras. In a casewhere a plurality of digital cameras according to the first aspect arepresent, each digital camera can be the host or the client. In addition,the number of digital cameras on the side (client) on which thecomposite image is received may be one or plural.

The digital camera with a printer according to a second aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of the first aspect, in which the imagecomposition unit generates, as the composite image, an image in whichthe first image and the second image are arranged in different regionsof one image. The second aspect prescribes an aspect of the compositeimage. Shapes and sizes of regions in which the first image and thesecond image are arranged may be selectable by the user.

The digital camera with a printer according to a third aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of the first aspect, in which the imagecomposition unit generates, as the composite image, an image in whichthe first image and the second image are superimposed. The third aspectprescribes another aspect of the composite image.

The digital camera with a printer according to a fourth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of the third aspect, in which the imagecomposition unit superimposes the first image and the second image basedon feature points extracted from the first image and the second image.The fourth aspect prescribes an aspect of an image composition methodusing superimposition.

The digital camera with a printer according to a fifth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of any one of the first to fourth aspects,in which the image composition unit generates the composite image in acase where a difference between an imaging time point of the first imageand an imaging time point of the second image is less than or equal to athreshold value. According to the fifth aspect, the composite image canbe generated using images of which imaging timings are aligned. Thethreshold value for the imaging time points may be changeable by theuser.

The digital camera with a printer according to a sixth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of any one of the first to fifth aspects,further comprising a display unit that displays the first image receivedfrom the host, in which the communication unit transmits the secondimage to the host. According to the sixth aspect, the user of the clientcan check the image (first image) captured by the host.

The digital camera with a printer according to a seventh aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of any one of the first to sixth aspects,in which the communication unit transmits information for promptingcapturing of the second image to the client. According to the seventhaspect, by transmitting the information for prompting capturing of thesecond image to the client from the host, the imaging timings can beeasily aligned. The information for prompting capturing may be audio ora text. In addition, the information for prompting capturing may beinformation for causing a light emitting element to emit light.

The digital camera with a printer according to an eighth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of the seventh aspect, further comprisingan information output unit that outputs the information for promptingcapturing of the second image. According to the eighth aspect, theimaging timings can be easily aligned among a plurality of users. Theinformation output unit can output information using audio, a text,light emission of a light emitting element, and the like.

The digital camera with a printer according to a ninth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of the eighth aspect, in which thecommunication unit transmits an image captured in accordance with theinformation received from the host to the host as the second image.According to the ninth aspect, the digital camera with a printer as thehost (side on which the composite image is generated) can acquire animage necessary for generating the composite image from the client.

The digital camera with a printer according to a tenth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of any one of the first to ninth aspects,further comprising a print control unit that controls printing of thecomposite image, in which in a case where the composite image isreceived from the host, the print control unit causes a printer of theowned apparatus which is the client to print the composite imageindependently of an instruction operation of a user. According to thetenth aspect, the client can automatically print the composite image.

The digital camera with a printer according to an eleventh aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of the tenth aspect, in which in a casewhere the host is a digital camera with a printer registered on anautomatic print permission list, the print control unit causes theprinter of the owned apparatus which is the client to print thecomposite image independently of the instruction operation of the user.According to the eleventh aspect, unintended automatic printing in theclient can be prevented.

The digital camera with a printer according to a twelfth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of any one of the first to eleventhaspects, further comprising a storage control unit that controls storageof an image in a recording medium, in which the storage control unitdoes not store the composite image in a non-temporary recording medium.According to the twelfth aspect, since the composite image is not storedin the non-temporary recording medium (recording medium such as a memorycard in which data is not deleted even in a case where power is oft), itis possible to prompt the user to perform printing. In addition, rarityof the printed composite image can be increased. In the tenth aspect,the image may be temporarily stored in a recording medium such as arandom access memory (RAM) for displaying or printing the compositeimage.

The digital camera with a printer according to a thirteenth aspect isthe digital camera with a printer of any one of the first to eleventhaspects, further comprising a storage control unit that controls storageof an image in a recording medium, in which the storage control unitstores the composite image in a non-temporary recording medium.According to the thirteenth aspect, the composite image can be stored.

The digital camera with a printer according to a fourteenth aspect isthe digital camera with a printer of any one of the first to thirteenthaspects, in which the communication unit transmits informationindicating a message to the client by associating the information withthe composite image. The information indicating the message may be dataof a text, audio, or the like or may be information such as a uniformresource locator (URL) indicating a location at which data of a text,audio, or the like is stored.

The digital camera with a printer according to a fifteenth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of any one of the first to fourteenthaspects, further comprising an output unit that outputs the messagebased on the information indicating the message. In a case whereinformation such as audio or an image is directly associated with thecomposite image, the message can be output. In a case where informationsuch as the URL indicating a location of audio, an image, or the like isassociated, the message acquired by accessing a server or the like canbe output. According to the fifteenth aspect, the user can enjoy amessage of another user who creates the composite image.

The digital camera with a printer according to a sixteenth aspect is thedigital camera with a printer of any one of the first to fifteenthaspects, further comprising a composite image display unit that displaysthe composite image. According to the sixteenth aspect, the compositeimage can be visually recognized.

The digital camera with a printer according to a seventeenth aspect isthe digital camera with a printer of any one of the first to sixteenthaspects, in which the communication unit communicates with the digitalcamera with a printer which is the other apparatus using short rangewireless communication. According to the seventeenth aspect,transmission and reception of images and generation and printing of thecomposite image can be directly enjoyed between nearby users.

The digital camera with a printer according to an eighteenth aspect isthe digital camera with a printer of any one of the first to seventeenthaspects, in which the communication unit communicates with the digitalcamera with a printer which is the other apparatus through aninformation communication network. According to the eighteenth aspect,transmission and reception of images and generation and printing of thecomposite image can be enjoyed between users far from each other throughthe information communication network such as the Internet.

As described above, according to the digital camera with a printeraccording to an aspect of the present invention, the composite image canbe enjoyed by capturing images using a plurality of cameras.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view illustrating a digital camera with aprinter.

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view illustrating the digital camera with aprinter.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an instant film.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the instant film.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an electric configuration of thedigital camera with a printer.

FIG. 6 is a function block diagram of a camera control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing related toimage composition.

FIG. 8 is another flowchart illustrating the procedure of processingrelated to the image composition.

FIG. 9 is still another flowchart illustrating the procedure ofprocessing related to the image composition.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a modification example of theprocedure of processing related to the image composition.

FIG. 11 is another flowchart illustrating the modification example ofthe procedure of processing related to the image composition.

FIGS. 12A to 12E are diagrams illustrating patterns of the imagecomposition.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating examples of a first image.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second image.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite image.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state of attaching a message to animage.

FIGS. 17A to 17C are diagrams illustrating examples of an image to whichan audio message is attached.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite image onwhich a two-dimensional barcode indicating an audio message issuperimposed.

FIGS. 19A to 19C are diagrams illustrating an example of imagecomposition using superimposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of a digital camera with a printer according to thepresent invention will be described in detail below. In description, theappended drawings will be referred to.

<Digital Camera with Printer>

A digital camera with a printer 10 is a digital camera incorporating aprinter and has a function of instantly printing a captured image. Thedigital camera with a printer 10 of the present embodiment performsprinting on an instant film using an instant film pack. In addition, thedigital camera with a printer 10 of the present embodiment has an audiorecording function and can record audio in association with the capturedimage.

<Exterior Configuration>

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view illustrating an example of thedigital camera with a printer. FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of thedigital camera with a printer illustrated in FIG. 1 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the digital camera with a printer10 includes a portable camera body 12. The camera body 12 has a smallthickness in a forward-rearward direction and has a longitudinalrectangular parallelepiped shape of which a dimension in a longitudinaldirection is longer than a dimension in a lateral direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , an imaging lens 14, a release button 16, anaudio recording button 18, an electronic flash light emission window 20,and the like are comprised on a front surface side of the camera body12. In addition, a power button 22 a, a menu button 22 b, an OK button22 c, a mode switching button 22 d, a microphone hole 24, a speaker hole26, and the like are comprised on a side surface on one side of thecamera body 12. The release button 16 is a button for issuing aninstruction to record an image. The power button 22 a is a button forpowering the digital camera with a printer 10 ON and OFF. The menubutton 22 b is a button for calling a menu screen. The OK button is abutton for issuing an OK instruction. The mode switching button 22 d isa button for switching between an auto print mode and a manual printmode in an imaging mode.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , a touch panel display 28, a film lid cover30, and various types of operation buttons are comprised on a rearsurface side of the camera body 12. The film lid cover 30 is a cover foropening and closing a film loading chamber. The types of operationbuttons include a joystick 32 a, a print button 32 b, a play button 32c, a cancel button 32 d, and the like. The print button 32 b is a buttonfor issuing an instruction to perform printing. The play button 32 c isa button for issuing an instruction to switch to a playback mode. Thecancel button 32 d is a button for issuing an instruction to cancel anoperation.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , a film discharge port 34 iscomprised on an upper surface of the camera body 12. The instant film onwhich printing is performed is discharged from the film discharge port34.

<Configuration of Printer Part of Digital Camera with Printer>

The digital camera with a printer 10 comprises the film loading chamber(not illustrated), a film feeding mechanism 52, a film transportmechanism 54, a printhead 56, and the like as constituents of a printerpart that is a print unit (refer to FIG. 5 ). An instant film packhaving a structure in which a plurality of instant films is accommodatedin a case is loaded into the film loading chamber. FIG. 3 is a frontview of an instant film 42, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the instantfilm 42. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , a direction indicated by arrow F is adirection of use of the instant film 42, and the instant film 42 istransported in the direction indicated by arrow F. Accordingly, in acase where the instant film 42 is loaded into the digital camera with aprinter 10, the direction indicated by arrow F is a discharge directionof the instant film 42.

The instant film 42 is a self-developing instant film having arectangular card shape. The instant film 42 is configured such that arear surface side is an exposure surface 42 a, and that a front surfaceside is an observation surface 42 b. The exposure surface 42 a is asurface on which an image is recorded by exposure. The observationsurface 42 b is a surface on which the recorded image is observed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , an observation region 42 h is comprised onthe observation surface 42 b of the instant film 42. In addition, asillustrated in FIG. 4 , an exposure region 42 c, a pod portion 42 d, anda trap portion 42 f are comprised on the exposure surface 42 a of theinstant film 42. The instant film 42 is subjected to developmenttreatment by spreading a development treatment liquid of the pod portion42 d onto the exposure region 42 c after exposure. The pod portion 42 dincorporates a development treatment liquid pod 42 e containing thedevelopment treatment liquid. The development treatment liquid of thepod portion 42 d is squeezed from the pod portion 42 d and spread ontothe exposure region 42 c by passing the instant film 42 through a rollerpair. The development treatment liquid that is left in spreadingprocessing is trapped by the trap portion 42 f. The trap portion 42 fincorporates an absorbent material 42 g.

The instant film pack is loaded into the film loading chamber, notillustrated, that is disposed inside the camera body 12. In a case ofprinting, the film is fed one sheet at a time by a claw (claw-shapedmember), not illustrated, of the film feeding mechanism 52 andtransported by a roller, not illustrated, of the film transportmechanism 54. In addition, during transport, the development treatmentliquid is subjected to the spreading processing by pressing the podportion 42 d of the instant film 42 by a spreading roller pair, notillustrated. The printhead 56 is configured with a line exposure headand records the image on the instant film 42 in a single pass byirradiating the exposure surface 42 a of the instant film 42, which istransported by the film transport mechanism 54, with print light oneline at a time. A frame 42 i is comprised around the observation region42 h, and the image is displayed inside the frame 42 i.

<Electric Configuration of Digital Camera with Printer>

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a main portion of an electricconfiguration of the digital camera with a printer.

As illustrated in the drawing, the digital camera with a printer 10comprises the imaging lens 14, a lens driving unit 62, an image sensor64, an image sensor driving unit 66, an analog signal processing unit68, a digital signal processing unit 70, a memory 72, a memorycontroller 74, a display 28, a display controller 76, a communicationunit 78, and an antenna 80. In addition, the digital camera with aprinter 10 comprises a film feeding driving unit 82, a film transportdriving unit 84, a head driving unit 86, a strobe 88, an electronicflash light emission control unit 90, a microphone 92, a speaker 94, anaudio signal processing unit 96, a time tracking unit 97, an operationunit 98, and a camera control unit 100.

The imaging lens 14 causes an optical image of a subject to be formed ona light-receiving surface of the image sensor 64. The imaging lens 14has a focal point adjustment function and comprises, not illustrated, astop and a shutter. The lens driving unit 62 includes a motor drivingthe focal point adjustment function of the imaging lens 14 and a drivingcircuit thereof, a motor driving the stop and a driving circuit thereof,and a motor driving the shutter and a driving circuit thereof, andoperates a focal point adjustment mechanism, the stop, and the shutterin accordance with an instruction from the camera control unit 100.

The image sensor 64 is configured with a two-dimensional solid-stateimaging element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or acomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. The imagesensor 64 has an imaging region of an aspect ratio corresponding to aprintable region of the used instant film. The image sensor driving unit66 includes a driving circuit of the image sensor 64 and operates theimage sensor 64 in accordance with an instruction from the cameracontrol unit 100.

In the digital camera with a printer 10 of the present embodiment, theimaging lens 14 and the image sensor 64 constitute an imaging unit.

The analog signal processing unit 68 fetches an analog image signal ofeach pixel output from the image sensor 64, digitizes the analog imagesignal by performing signal processing (for example, correlative doublesampling processing or amplification processing), and outputs thedigitized image signal.

The digital signal processing unit 70 fetches the digital image signaloutput from the analog signal processing unit 68 and generates imagedata by performing signal processing (for example, gradationtransformation processing, white balance correction processing,gamma-correction processing, demosaicing processing, or YCtransformation processing).

The memory 72 is a non-temporary recording medium storing the image dataobtained by imaging and audio data. For example, a memory card is usedas the memory 72. The memory 72 is an example of a storage unit. Thememory controller 74 reads and writes data in the memory 72 undercontrol of the camera control unit 100.

The display 28 is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display(LCD) or an organic electro-luminescence display (OELD). Besides, thedisplay 28 may be configured with a plasma display, a field emissiondisplay (FED), an electronic paper, or the like. The display controller76 displays a video on the display 28 under control of the cameracontrol unit 100.

The communication unit 78 wirelessly communicates with another digitalcamera with a printer 10 (another apparatus) through the antenna 80under control of the camera control unit 100. The communication unit 78can directly communicate with the other apparatus in a short range usingshort range wireless communication such as a near field communication(NFC) standard or Bluetooth (registered trademark). In addition, thecommunication unit 78 can connect to an information communicationnetwork such as the Internet through a Wi-Fi spot (Wi-Fi: registeredtrademark) and communicate with the other digital camera with a printer10 (the other apparatus) regardless of distance.

The film feeding driving unit 82 includes a motor driving the claw(claw-shaped member), not illustrated, of the film feeding mechanism 52and a driving circuit thereof, and operates the claw by driving themotor under control of the camera control unit 100.

The film transport driving unit 84 includes a motor driving a transportroller pair, not illustrated, of the film transport mechanism 54 and adriving circuit thereof and a motor driving the spreading roller pair,not illustrated, and a driving circuit thereof, and operates thetransport roller pair and the spreading roller pair by driving the motorof the transport roller pair and the motor of the spreading roller pairunder control of the camera control unit 100.

The head driving unit 86 includes a driving circuit of the printhead 56and drives the printhead 56 under control of the camera control unit100.

The strobe 88 comprises, for example, a xenon tube or a light emittingdiode (LED) as a light source and irradiates the subject with electronicflash light by causing the light source to emit light. Irradiation withthe electronic flash light is performed from the electronic flash lightemission window 20 (refer to FIG. 1 ) comprised on a front surface ofthe camera body 12. The electronic flash light emission control unit 90includes a driving circuit of the strobe 88 and causes the strobe 88 toemit light in accordance with an instruction from the camera controlunit 100.

The microphone 92 collects audio from an outside through the microphonehole 24 (refer to FIG. 2 ) comprised in the camera body 12. Themicrophone 92 is an example of an audio collection unit. The speaker 94outputs audio to the outside from the speaker hole 26 comprised in thecamera body 12. The audio signal processing unit 96 digitizes an audiosignal input from the microphone 92 by performing signal processing andoutputs the digitized audio signal. In addition, the audio signalprocessing unit 96 performs signal processing on audio data providedfrom the camera control unit 100 and outputs the audio data from thespeaker 94. The time tracking unit 97 holds date and time information,and the camera control unit 100 sets an imaging time point (date andtime) by referring to the information.

The operation unit 98 includes various operation members such as therelease button 16, the audio recording button 18, the power button 22 a,the menu button 22 b, the OK button 22 c, the joystick 32 a, the printbutton 32 b, the play button 32 c, and the cancel button 32 d and asignal processing circuit thereof, and outputs a signal based on anoperation of each operation member to the camera control unit 100.

The camera control unit 100 is a control unit that controls an operationof the entire digital camera with a printer 10. The camera control unit100 comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM),a random access memory (RAM), an electronically erasable andprogrammable read only memory (EEPROM), and the like. The camera controlunit 100 is a computer configured with the CPU and the like andimplements various functions described below by executing a controlprogram.

<Functional Configuration of Camera Control Unit>

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of thecamera control unit 100. The camera control unit 100 comprises acommunication control unit 100A (communication unit), an imagecomposition unit 100B (image composition unit), an output control unit100C (an information output unit, an output unit, and a composite imagedisplay unit), a print control unit 100D (print control unit), a storagecontrol unit 100E (storage control unit), and a message processing unit100F (output unit).

A function of each unit of the camera control unit 100 described abovecan be implemented using various processors and a recording medium. Forexample, the various processors include a CPU that is a general-purposeprocessor implementing various functions by executing software(program). In addition, the various processors include a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU) that is a processor specialized in imageprocessing, and a programmable logic device (PLD) such as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA). The programmable logic device is aprocessor of which a circuit configuration can be changed aftermanufacturing. In a case of learning or recognizing images, aconfiguration using the GPU is effective. Furthermore, the variousprocessors include a dedicated electric circuit or the like that is aprocessor such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)having a circuit configuration dedicatedly designed to execute aspecific type of processing.

The function of each unit may be implemented by one processor or may beimplemented by a plurality of processors of the same type or differenttypes (for example, a plurality of FPGAs, a combination of a CPU and anFPGA, or a combination of a CPU and a GPU). In addition, one processormay have a plurality of functions. As an example of configuring theplurality of functions with one processor, first, as represented by acomputer, a form of configuring one processor with a combination of oneor more CPUs and software and causing the processor to implement theplurality of functions is present. Second, as represented by a system onchip (SoC) or the like, a form of using a processor that implements afunction of the entire system using one integrated circuit (IC) chip ispresent. In such a manner, various functions are configured using one ormore of the various processors as a hardware structure. Furthermore, ahardware structure of those various processors is more specifically anelectric circuit (circuitry) in which circuit elements such assemiconductor elements are combined. The electric circuit may be anelectric circuit that implements the functions using a logical sum, alogical product, a logical negation, an exclusive logical sum, and alogical operation of a combination thereof.

In a case where the processor or the electric circuit executes software(program), a code of the executed software readable by a computer(various processors or electric circuits constituting the camera controlunit 100 and/or a combination thereof) is stored in a non-temporaryrecording medium such as a ROM, and the computer refers to the software.The software stored in the non-temporary recording medium includes aprogram for executing capturing and composition of images, and data usedfor execution. Instead of the ROM, the non-temporary recording medium inwhich the code is recorded may be various magneto-optical recordingdevices, a semiconductor memory, and the like. In a case of processingusing the software, for example, a RAM is used as a temporary storageregion.

<Processing Related to Generation of Composite Image>

FIG. 7 to FIG. 11 are flowcharts illustrating processing related togeneration and the like of a composite image by the digital camera witha printer 10 having the above configuration. In FIG. 7 to FIG. 11 ,processing on a side (hereinafter, referred to as a “host”) requestinggeneration of the composite image is illustrated on a left side of thedrawing, and processing on a side (hereinafter, referred to as a“client”) receiving the composite image is illustrated on a right sideof the drawing. In FIG. 7 to FIG. 11 , two digital cameras with aprinter 10 having the above configuration are used. One digital camerawith a printer 10 is used as the “host” (first digital camera with aprinter), and the other digital camera with a printer 10 (second digitalcamera with a printer) is used as the “client”. The digital cameras witha printer used as the host and the client do not necessarily havecompletely the same configuration. Digital cameras with a printer havingdifferent configurations may be used as the host and the client.

In the digital camera with a printer 10 on a host side, the imagecomposition unit 100B determines whether or not a request to generatethe composite image is made (step S100). Whether or not the request ismade can be determined by presence or absence of an operation of a userperformed on the operation unit 98. In a case where the request togenerate the composite image is made (YES in step S100), the imagecomposition unit 100B selects a template of the composite image based onan instruction input of the user provided through the operation unit 98(step S110). FIGS. 12A to 12E are diagrams illustrating examples of thetemplate. In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12E, a boundarybetween an image (first image) captured by the host and an image (secondimage) captured by the client is illustrated by a dotted line. Asillustrated in the examples, in the template, one image may be dividedinto left and right parts, upper and lower parts, or in an obliquemanner or may be divided into a center portion and a periphery of theimage. In addition, the number of divisions is not limited to two andmay be three or more. Furthermore, the template may be decorated with atext, a number, a symbol, and the like in addition to the image. Theimage composition unit 100B generates, as the composite image, an imagein which the first image and the second image are arranged in differentregions of one image using the selected template. The image compositionunit 100B may determine whether or not the request to generate thecomposite image is made based on a request on a client side. In thiscase, the client side may transmit a signal for requesting imagecomposition with the second image to the host side, and the host sidemay start generating the composite image in response to the signal forrequesting the image composition transmitted from the client side.

In a case where the template is selected, the image composition unit100B issues an imaging instruction for the first image (step S120). Thisimaging instruction can be issued by causing the image composition unit100B to output a message prompting imaging to the speaker 94 ordisplaying the message on the display 28. The user can capture a desiredimage using the digital camera with a printer 10 that is an ownedapparatus. In a case where an image is captured by the imaging lens 14,the image sensor 64, and the like (imaging unit), the image compositionunit 100B determines that the “first image is captured” (YES in stepS130). The camera control unit 100 decides an imaging date and time ofthe image (first image) by referring to the information in the timetracking unit 97.

In a case where the first image is captured, the communication controlunit 100A (communication unit) transmits the first image to the otherapparatus (client) through the communication unit 78 (communicationunit) and the antenna 80 (communication unit) and issues an imaginginstruction for the second image (step S140). As illustrated in FIG.13A, the image composition unit 100B and the communication control unit100A can transmit the first image in a state where the first image isarranged in the template selected in step S110. At this point, the imagecomposition unit 100B may cut the first image in accordance with theselected template. In addition, the communication control unit 100A(communication unit) can transmit the imaging instruction for the secondimage to the other apparatus through the communication unit 78(communication unit) and the antenna 80 (communication unit).

The digital camera with a printer 10 that is the client receives thefirst image and the imaging instruction for the second image by thecommunication unit 78 (communication unit) and the antenna 80(communication unit) (step S300). The digital camera with a printer 10(client) that receives the first image displays the received image(first image) on the display 28 (display unit) (step S305). Accordingly,the user can perceive “which image is composited with the image capturedby the user”. In addition, the output control unit 100C (the informationoutput unit and the display unit) of the client outputs the imaginginstruction for the second image by display on the display 28 (theinformation output unit and the display unit) and/or audio output fromthe speaker 94 (information output unit) (step S305).

In step S140, the host may not transmit the first image and transmitonly the imaging instruction for the second image to the client. In thiscase, in the client, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, the output control unit100C can display a question mark (information indicating that the firstimage is not received) on a right side (region in which the first imageis arranged) of the image and display the imaging instruction on a leftside (region in which the second image is arranged) of the image on thedisplay 28 (step S305).

In the client, the image composition unit 100B determines whether or notthe second image is captured (step S310). The user can capture a desiredimage using the digital camera with a printer 10 as the client. In acase where the image is captured by the imaging lens 14, the imagesensor 64, and the like (imaging unit), a positive determination is madein step S310. In a case of imaging, the camera control unit 100 decidesthe imaging time point (date and time) of the image (second image)captured by the client by referring to the information in the timetracking unit 97 in the same manner as described above for the firstimage. The communication control unit 100A (communication unit) on theclient side transmits the second image to the host (the other apparatus)through the communication unit 78 (communication unit) and the antenna80 (communication unit) (step S320). The output control unit 100C of theclient may display the captured image (second image) on the display 28before transmitting the captured image to the host. Here, it is assumedthat the second image illustrated in FIG. 14 is captured.

In the host, the communication control unit 100A determines whether ornot the second image is received from the client (step S150). In a casewhere the second image is received (YES in step S150), the imagecomposition unit 100B determines whether or not a difference between theimaging time point of the first image and the imaging time point of thesecond image is less than or equal to a threshold value (step S160). Ina case where the difference between the imaging time points is greaterthan the threshold value (NO in step S160), the image composition unit100B of the host does not generate the composite image, and returns tostep S120 and issues the imaging instruction for the first image again.

In a case where the difference between the imaging time points is lessthan or equal to the threshold value (YES in step S160), the imagecomposition unit 100B of the host generates the composite image bycompositing the first image and the second image (step S170). In theexamples described using FIG. 12A to FIG. 14 , the image compositionunit 100B generates, as the composite image, an image in which the firstimage and the second image are arranged in different regions of oneimage in accordance with the selected template. At this point, the imagecomposition unit 100B may cut the first image and/or the second image inaccordance with the selected template. In addition, the imagecomposition unit 100B displays the generated composite image on thedisplay 28 (composite image display unit) (step S180). Accordingly, theuser of the host can check the composite image. Here, it is assumed thatthe composite image illustrated in FIG. 15 is generated and displayed.In a case where the user of the host is not satisfied with the compositeimage (for example, in a case where the user issues an instruction toperform processing again through the operation unit 98), the host mayreturn to step S120 or step S140 and perform processing again.

In the processing related to generation of the composite image, aplurality of clients may be present instead of one client. In a casewhere a plurality of clients are present, the image composition unit100B of the host may generate the composite image in which images of thehost and all clients are arranged in one image, or may generate thecomposite image in which images of the host and a part (one or more) ofthe clients are arranged in one image. For example, the digital camerawith a printer 10 used by an actor can be used as the host, and aplurality of digital cameras with a printer 10 each used by anindividual member of a fan club can be used as the clients. In thiscase, for example, the image composition unit 100B of the host cangenerate an image (different images for each client) in which an imagecaptured by the actor and an image of the individual member arecomposited.

In the host, the message processing unit 100F determines whether or notto attach a message to the composite image (step S190). The messageprocessing unit 100F can perform this determination based on anoperation of the user performed through the operation unit 98. In a caseof attaching the message to the composite image (YES in step S190), forexample, as in the example in FIG. 16 , the message processing unit 100Fdisplays information 530 for prompting audio recording of the message onthe display 28 and generates, as “information indicating the message”,audio that is input through the microphone 92 and the audio signalprocessing unit 96 in response to the display (step S200). The messageprocessing unit 100F may output the information for prompting audiorecording of the message from the speaker 94 or may perform audiorecording in accordance with an operation performed on the audiorecording button 18. A handwritten text, a symbol, or the like inputthrough a touch panel of the display 28 may be generated as the“information indicating the message” and be attached to or superimposedon the image.

In the host, the image composition unit 100B and the communicationcontrol unit 100A (communication unit) transmits the composite imagegenerated in such a manner (in a case where the message is generated,the information indicating the message is associated with the compositeimage) to the client through the communication unit 78 (communicationunit) and the antenna 80 (communication unit) (step S210). In theclient, the communication control unit 100A (communication unit)receives the composite image (and the message) through the communicationunit 78 (communication unit) and the antenna 80 (communication unit)(step S330) and displays the composite image on the display 28 (stepS340). FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating an example of the compositeimage to which an audio message is attached. A mark 600 of a speaker inthe composite image indicates that the audio message is attached to theimage.

In a case where the message is attached (YES in step S350), the messageprocessing unit 100F of the client outputs information indicating thatthe message is attached, using the display 28 and/or the speaker 94. Ina case where the user of the client issues an instruction to output themessage by performing an operation through the operation unit 98 or themicrophone 92, the message processing unit 100F (output unit) outputsaudio of the message by playing the audio through the audio signalprocessing unit 96 (output unit) and the speaker 94 (output unit) (stepS360). In a case where the handwritten text, the symbol, or the like isattached as the message, the message processing unit 100F (output unit)may display the message on the display 28 by superimposing the messageon the composite image. In addition, the print control unit 100D mayprint the message such as the text or the symbol by superimposing themessage on the composite image.

While a case where the host attaches the message to the composite imageis described in the above aspect, the message may be generated andattached in a case where the host transmits the first image to theclient, and/or in a case where the client transmits the second image tothe host. FIG. 17B is an example of attaching the message in a case oftransmitting the first image. FIG. 17C illustrates an example ofgenerating the composite image in a state where the message is attachedto both of the first image and the second image.

In the client that receives the composite image from the host, the printcontrol unit 100D (print control unit) determines whether or not thehost is the digital camera with a printer 10 registered on an “automaticprint permission list” (step S370). In a case where the host isregistered on the list, the print control unit 100D causes the printer(configured with the printhead 56, the film feeding mechanism 52, thefilm transport mechanism 54, and the driving units thereof; refer toFIG. 5 ) of the owned apparatus to print the composite imageindependently of an instruction operation of the user (step S380). Inaddition, even in a case where the composite image is received from thehost not registered on the “automatic print permission list”, the printcontrol unit 100D may determine whether or not to perform printing inaccordance with an operation of the user (step S390) and performprinting in a case where a positive determination is made. For example,the print control unit 100D can create the “automatic print permissionlist” based on individual identification information of the digitalcamera with a printer 10 or an operation of the user performed throughthe operation unit 98 and store the automatic print permission list inthe EEPROM (refer to FIG. 5 ) of the camera control unit 100, and canrefer to the automatic print permission list in a case of determinationin step S370.

In a case where the composite image is printed, the user cannot refer tothe audio message associated with the composite image from a printout.In this case, in a case of printing the composite image to which theaudio message is attached, the message processing unit 100F and thecommunication control unit 100A can upload the audio message to astorage device (server or the like) on a network through thecommunication unit 78 and the antenna 80 and acquire information (atwo-dimensional barcode, a URL, or the like) indicating an uploaddestination. The print control unit 100D can print the information bysuperimposing the information on the composite image. FIG. 18 is anexample illustrating a state where a two-dimensional barcode 610indicating the upload destination of the message is displayed bysuperimposing the two-dimensional barcode 610 on the composite image.The user can read out the two-dimensional barcode using a smartphone orother apparatuses and an application and check the audio message byaccessing the server or the like.

After the composite image is printed (step S380), the storage controlunit 100E (storage control unit) of the client finishes processingwithout storing the composite image in the memory 72 (non-temporaryrecording medium). Accordingly, a rarity value of the printout can beincreased, and printing can be promoted.

Meanwhile, in the host, after the composite image (and the message) istransmitted to the client (step S210), the storage control unit 100E(storage control unit) determines whether or not to store the compositeimage in the memory 72 (step S220). The storage control unit 100E canperform this determination based on an operation of the user performedthrough the operation unit 98 or the like. In a case where a positivedetermination is made (YES in step S220), the storage control unit 100Estores the composite image in the memory 72 (step S230) and finishesprocessing. The host may transmit the composite image again in a casewhere a request is made from the client.

As described above, according to the digital camera with a printer 10 ofthe present embodiment, the user can enjoy the composite image bycapturing images using a plurality of cameras.

<Modification Example Related to Printing and Storage of CompositeImage>

An aspect in which the host does not print and stores the compositeimage, and in which the client prints and does not store the compositeimage is described with respect to the flowcharts of FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 .However, an aspect related to printing and storage of the compositeimage may be different from the above aspect. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 10 , in the host, the print control unit 100D (printcontrol unit) may determine whether or not to print the composite image(step S212) and perform printing in a case where a positivedetermination is made (step S214). In this case, in the host, forexample, the print control unit 100D can determine whether or not toprint the composite image based on an operation of the user performedthrough the operation unit 98. In FIG. 10 , steps (steps S212 and S214)surrounded by a dash-dotted line are added with respect to the flowchartof FIG. 9 .

Meanwhile, the client may store the composite image. In this case, forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 11 , the storage control unit 100E(storage control unit) can determine whether or not to store thecomposite image in the memory 72 (non-temporary recording medium) (stepS392). In a case where a positive determination is made in step S392,the storage control unit 100E stores the composite image in the memory72 (step S394). In a case where the message is attached to the compositeimage, it is preferable that the storage control unit 100E stores thecomposite image in association with the message. In FIG. 11 , steps(steps S392 and S394) surrounded by a dash-dotted line are added withrespect to the flowchart of FIG. 9 . In addition, in FIG. 11 ,processing on the host side is not illustrated.

<Generation of Composite Image Using Superimposition>

An aspect in which the image composition unit generates, as thecomposite image, an image in which the first image and the second imageare arranged in different regions of one image is described with respectto FIG. 12A to FIG. 17C. However, in the digital camera with a printer10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the imagecomposition unit 100B may generate, as the composite image, an image inwhich the first image and the second image are superimposed. FIGS. 19Ato 19C are diagrams for describing such generation of the compositeimage using superimposition. In the example illustrated in FIG. 19A, ina case where an image 501 (first image) is captured by the host, andwhere an image 502 (second image) is captured by the client, the imagecomposition unit 100B of the host extracts a feature point 1000 from theimage 501 as a corner portion of a subject 900 (house) and extracts afeature point 1010 from the image 502 as a corner portion or anintersection of a ridgeline of a subject 910 (mountain). The imagecomposition unit 100B can generate the composite image by superimposingthe image 501 and the image 502 such that the feature points 1000 and1010 (feature points) extracted from the image 501 (first image) and theimage 502 (second image) match. The image composition unit 100B canextract the feature points from the image 501 and the image 502 using awell-known method. In addition, in a case of superimposition, the imagecomposition unit 100B may perform image processing such as movement,rotation, and deformation on the image 501 and/or the image 502.

FIG. 19B illustrates an example of the composite image usingsuperimposition. In this example, a composite image 510 of a panoramicimage type is obtained, and an upper right region 511 and a lower leftregion 512 are blank (region in which image data is not present) due todeviation of the original images 501 and 502. In the drawing, a dottedline is a reference line indicating ranges of the original images 501and 502.

FIG. 19C illustrates another example of the composite image usingsuperimposition. Even in this example, a composite image 520 of apanoramic image type is obtained. However, in the composite image 520,the image composition unit 100B trims an image region into a rectangularshape. In the drawing, a dotted line is a reference line indicatingranges of the original images 501 and 502. In a case of generating thecomposite image using superimposition, the image composition unit 100Bmay generate an image such as the composite image 510 or generate animage such as the composite image 520.

By image composition illustrated in FIGS. 19A to 19C, the user of thedigital camera with a printer 10 can enjoy the composite image bycapturing images using a plurality of cameras.

<Modification Example of Printing Using Automatic Print Permission List>

An aspect in which the client automatically performs printing in a casewhere the client receives the composite image from the digital camerawith a printer 10 registered on the “automatic print permission list” ofthe client is described using FIG. 9 . However, automatically performingprinting by the client is not limited to a case where the compositeimage is received. For example, in a case where the image captured bythe client is transmitted to the host from the client, subjected to theimage processing such as movement, rotation, and deformation on the hostside, and then, transmitted back to the client from the host, the clientmay automatically print the image transmitted back from the host basedon the “automatic print permission list”. In addition, for example, in acase where the image captured by the client is transmitted to the hostfrom the client, the message is attached to the image by the messageprocessing unit 100F of the host, and the image is transmitted back tothe client from the host, the client may automatically print the imagetransmitted back from the host.

While the embodiment of the present invention is described above, thepresent invention is not limited to the above aspect and can besubjected to various modifications without departing from a spirit ofthe present invention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

10: digital camera with printer

12: camera body

14: imaging lens

16: release button

18: audio recording button

20: electronic flash light emission window

22 a: power button

22 b: menu button

22 c: OK button

22 d: mode switching button

24: microphone hole

26: speaker hole

28: display

30: film lid cover

32 a: joystick

32 b: print button

32 c: play button

32 d: cancel button

34: film discharge port

42: instant film

42 a: exposure surface

42 b: observation surface

42 c: exposure region

42 d: pod portion

42 e: development treatment liquid pod

42 f: trap portion

42 g: absorbent material

42 h: observation region

42 i: frame

52: film feeding mechanism

54: film transport mechanism

56: printhead

62: lens driving unit

64: image sensor

66: image sensor driving unit

68: analog signal processing unit

70: digital signal processing unit

72: memory

74: memory controller

76: display controller

78: communication unit

80: antenna

82: film feeding driving unit

84: film transport driving unit

86: head driving unit

88: strobe

90: electronic flash light emission control unit

92: microphone

94: speaker

96: audio signal processing unit

97: time tracking unit

98: operation unit

100: camera control unit

100A: communication control unit

100B: image composition unit

100C: output control unit

100D: print control unit

100E: storage control unit

100F: message processing unit

501: image

502: image

510: composite image

511: region

512: region

520: composite image

530: information

600: mark

610: two-dimensional barcode

900: subject

910: subject

1000: feature point

1010: feature point

F: arrow

S100 to S394: each step of processing in digital camera with printer

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for a digital camera with a printer,comprising: a first digital camera with a printer, including acommunication unit; and a second digital camera with a printer,including a communication unit and a print control unit that controlsprinting, wherein the first digital camera with a printer and the seconddigital camera with a printer communicate through the communication unitof the first digital camera with a printer and the communication unit ofthe second digital camera with a printer, the first digital camera witha printer includes an image composition unit that generates a compositeimage in which a first image captured by the first digital camera with aprinter and a second image captured by the second digital camera with aprinter are composited, and the communication unit of the first digitalcamera with a printer transmits the composite image to the seconddigital camera with a printer, wherein in a case where the first digitalcamera with a printer is a digital camera with a printer registered onan automatic print permission list, the print control unit causes theprinter of the second digital camera with a printer to print thecomposite image independently of an instruction operation of a user, andin a case where the composite image is received from the first digitalcamera with a printer, the print control unit causes the printer of thesecond digital camera with a printer to print the composite imageindependently of an instruction operation of a user.
 2. The system for adigital camera with a printer according to claim 1, wherein the seconddigital camera with a printer further includes a display unit thatdisplays the first image received from the first digital camera with aprinter, and the communication unit of the second digital camera with aprinter transmits the second image to the first digital camera with aprinter.
 3. The system for a digital camera with a printer according toclaim 2, wherein the communication unit of the first digital camera witha printer transmits information for prompting capturing of the secondimage to the second digital camera with a printer, and the seconddigital camera with a printer further includes an information outputunit that outputs the information for prompting capturing of the secondimage.
 4. The system for a digital camera with a printer according toclaim 3, wherein the communication unit of the second digital camerawith a printer transmits an image captured in accordance with theinformation received from the first digital camera with a printer to thefirst digital camera with a printer as the second image.
 5. The systemfor a digital camera with a printer according to claim 4, wherein thefirst digital camera with a printer further includes a storage controlunit that controls storage of an image in a recording medium, and thestorage control unit does not store the composite image in anon-temporary recording medium.
 6. The system for a digital camera witha printer according to claim 3, wherein the first digital camera with aprinter further includes a storage control unit that controls storage ofan image in a recording medium, and the storage control unit does notstore the composite image in a non-temporary recording medium.
 7. Thesystem for a digital camera with a printer according to claim 2, whereinthe first digital camera with a printer further includes a storagecontrol unit that controls storage of an image in a recording medium,and the storage control unit does not store the composite image in anon-temporary recording medium.
 8. The system for a digital camera witha printer according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit of thefirst digital camera with a printer transmits information for promptingcapturing of the second image to the second digital camera with aprinter, and the second digital camera with a printer further includesan information output unit that outputs the information for promptingcapturing of the second image.
 9. The system for a digital camera with aprinter according to claim 8, wherein the communication unit of thesecond digital camera with a printer transmits an image captured inaccordance with the information received from the first digital camerawith a printer to the first digital camera with a printer as the secondimage.
 10. The system for a digital camera with a printer according toclaim 9, wherein the first digital camera with a printer furtherincludes a storage control unit that controls storage of an image in arecording medium, and the storage control unit does not store thecomposite image in a non-temporary recording medium.
 11. The system fora digital camera with a printer according to claim 8, wherein the firstdigital camera with a printer further includes a storage control unitthat controls storage of an image in a recording medium, and the storagecontrol unit does not store the composite image in a non-temporaryrecording medium.
 12. The system for a digital camera with a printeraccording to claim 1, wherein the first digital camera with a printerfurther includes a storage control unit that controls storage of animage in a recording medium, and the storage control unit does not storethe composite image in a non-temporary recording medium.
 13. The systemfor a digital camera with a printer according to claim 1, wherein thefirst digital camera with a printer further includes a storage controlunit that controls storage of an image in a recording medium, and thestorage control unit stores the composite image in a non-temporaryrecording medium.
 14. The system for a digital camera with a printeraccording to claim 1, wherein the communication unit of the firstdigital camera with a printer transmits information indicating a messageto the second digital camera with a printer by associating theinformation with the composite image.
 15. The system for a digitalcamera with a printer according to claim 14, wherein the second digitalcamera with a printer further includes an output unit that outputs themessage based on the information indicating the message.
 16. The systemfor a digital camera with a printer according to claim 1, wherein thesecond digital camera with a printer further includes a composite imagedisplay unit that displays the composite image.
 17. The system for adigital camera with a printer according to claim 1, wherein thecommunication unit of the first digital camera with a printer and thecommunication unit of the second digital camera with a printer performcommunication using short range wireless communication.
 18. A digitalcamera with a printer, comprising a communication unit performingcommunication as a host or a client, wherein the communication unitperforms communication with another digital camera with a printeraccording to claim 1 through an information communication network.